Archive | January, 2011

Virgin Blue wasted little time promoting its win of sponsoring the AFL, previously Qantas’s turf. The carrier unveiled a 737, VH-VUY, in a special AFL-themed livery, albeit incomplete: Virgin Blue’s logo was left out in anticipation of next month’s brand re-launch.Although some sections of the AFL are not pleased to be flying on Virgin Blue […]

Photograph: AirSpace user flcriminal Qantas’s response to increase competition on the trans-Pacific has largely been the unsustainable, and poor for yields, practice of cutting fares. Today, however, the carrier got smart and fired a shot at Delta/V Australia by making structural network changes. From 16 May Qantas will replace its Sydney-San Francisco route with Sydney-Dallas […]

Qantas’s announcement today that following the removal of thrust limitations it will resume limited LAX A380 flights on 16 January with QF93 departing MEL for LAX leaves more questions than answers.The only answer we have is ‘when’: when Qantas will resume A380 trans-Pacific flights. Missing is the more critical ‘how’.That flight from MEL is the […]

Will PIA’s 777s, a -300ER of which is seen approaching LHR, be used for new routes to China and Australia? Photograph: AirSpace user apgphoto Less than two weeks into the new year two airlines have emerged with possible plans to serve Australia, but don’t yet call the giant ribbon and scissor company and place them […]

Unspecified turboprops to be operated by Skywest in Virgin colours will supplement Virgin-operated E-190s. Photograph: AirSpace user Rear Loader John Borghetti has made clear the purpose of his job as chief executive of Virgin Blue: to return to shareholders the greatest profit possible.International routes from Australia can be a dogfight (see the trans-Pacific) and trunk […]

Photograph: AirSpace user afkabruce98 There is rightfully much attention as to when Qantas will resume A380 operations across the Pacific to Los Angeles. The route in its duopoly heyday was a huge financial boon for the carrier and the A380 remains in the spotlight following the November uncontained engine failure.The fact is, as some more […]